In Setagaya, Tokyo, there is a free market that has been lasting for 430 years. It is called “Boroichi”
The origin is a tax-free market and used cloths and tools were sold and bought a lot. Since used cloths or worn out cloths are called “boro” in Japanese, the market is called “Boroichi”.

Boroishi is held every year for total of four days, on January 15th, 16th and December 15th and 16th at around the street (Boroichi-dori) in front of Setagaya Daikan Yashiki (Setagaya magistrate’s resident). Every year, about 750 venders set their stall and over 200,000 people come check out the shops.

The closest station is Tokyu Setagaya Line Setagaya Station and Kamimachi Station. Usually, Setagaya Line is calm but during the Boroishi, it becomes very crowded. Boroichi is held on the same day regardless of the days so if the day lies on the weekend, it will be congested.

Today, not only cloths but many kinds of “stuff” such as antiques, used books, used games, household Shinto altar, toys, and foods are being sold. The market has adopted as one of the Setagaya’s traditional winter event.

I went to the Boroichi on Janurary so I would like to write a report.
The Boroichi on January of 2011, it was held on the weekend so it was very crowded. There were even place where you could not move because of the packed people.

Daikanmochi is a noted food of Boroichi. It is a rice cake that is pound right at the moment so people make a line to buy it. There are three types of flavor, anco (red beans paste), kinako (soybean flour), and karami (grated radish with soy sauce and green onion). You should try the warm and big chunk of freshly pounded rice cake at Boroishi.

They were selling cutting board here. My grandparents live close and my grandmother buys a cutting board every two years at the Boroichi and she bought a new one this year.

Here is a stall that sells saws and sickles. The farming tools have been sold and bought from the beginning of the Boroichi but I wonder how many people are going to buy these today.

This one sells household Shinto altar. This stall is here every year.

Here is selling cloth. Mainly women were looking for the cloth they want. There was a shop selling leather too.

The shop children gather is one that sells used games and cards. There were many nostalgic games.

Even though the name says “boro”, there is a chance to find a rare item. Visiting the Boroichi to find that treasure is another way of enjoying this market. The daikanmochi is good too!